Bringing home a baby is a thrilling, exciting, and joyous occasion – it’s also exhausting. And no matter how much we appreciate those cute baby outfits and blankies, those types of new mom presents do little to alleviate our fatigue and stress. That’s why it’s crucial to pick postpartum gifts for moms that count.
Are you wondering what to buy a new mom for herself? The best gifts for a new mom are not for the baby and are things she wouldn’t think to ask for. As a relatively new mom who remembers the postpartum period far too vividly, I’ve compiled this ultimate list of the best gifts for a new mom!
Whether you’re looking for a baby shower gift, a present to drop by after baby is born, or just a way to help, you’ll find all the answers you need here.
Are you a partner looking to buy a gift for your wife after giving birth? Check out our list of push presents!
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What is The Best Gift For New Mom?
No new parent will complain about any present that you bring them. But all too often, the things they really want and need aren’t at the forefront of a gift-giver’s mind.
If you really want to buy the perfect gift for mom, though, focus on what SHE needs, not the baby.
During the postpartum period, new mamas undergo a whirlwind of physical, mental, emotional, and logistical changes. To help with this transition, why not buy a gift that’s beneficial to them?
There are many types of gifts for a new mom. Some of the best postpartum gifts include:
- Comfort Gifts – Goodies that will help a stressed and exhausted new mom feel a little more loved, cozy, and pampered. Learn more here about self-care for new moms!
- Postpartum Support – Gifts to help mom’s physical recovery after childbirth.
- Baby Care Support – Presents to make her life with a new baby easier.
- Time-Saving Gifts and Memberships – Products, subscriptions, and services that will save the busy new mom time and energy.
- Gifts that Cost You Time, Not Money – Ways to support a new mom without having to shell out money you don’t have.
By using these categories (and more!), we’ll provide you with ideas for all types of situations, such as the following:
- What is the best gift for a new mom?
- What do you bring to a new mom?
- How can I help my new mom from far away?
- What do you get a new mom who has everything? (I promise, she still needs the items in section 5, “Gifts that Cost You Time, Not Money”)
- What can I get a new mom that doesn’t break my budget?
Gifts For New Mom: Loungewear & Pajamas
After labor and delivery, the new mom in your life probably won’t be feeling 100%. Why not get her a cozy set of PJs or a luxurious robe she can wear for top-notch relaxation while she snuggles her new baby?
1. Bamboo Pajama Set by Cozy Earth
Cozy Earth makes the ULTIMATE in pajama luxury, and what new mom won’t be thrilled to feel pampered in one of Oprah’s Favorite Things!?
Get 40% Off With Code undefiningmotherhood40. For a limited time.
So soft it’s like sleeping on a cloud, Cozy Earth’s innovative fabric that not only provides versatility and flexibility throughout your pregnancy but also regulates your body temperature, ensuring you enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep. Ideal for postpartum hot flashes.
2. Robe from Kyte Baby
Kyte Baby is famous for its extra soft baby pajamas, but most people don’t realize they make excellent options for moms, as well. Spoil your favorite new mama with a gorgeous, buttery soft robe.
We love that there’s an inner tie to hold everything in place, and the bamboo fabric with deep pockets is convenient for carrying around all the random things the baby needs at any given moment.
3. Dreamy 2-Piece Postpartum PJ Set at Target
This gorgeous button-up PJ set from Target makes a great pair of nursing pajamas and is perfect for those early days of parenthood when you want to lounge around cuddling your new babe.
4. Homma Postpartum Leggings from Amazon
Amid my postpartum recovery, throwing on a pair of jeans was the last thing on my mind! I know I’m not alone in this!
Why not gift your loved ones a great pair of leggings they can wear around the house, to the store, or five days in a row if they want to?
This top-rated pair from Amazon offers gentle tummy compression, moisture-wicking technology, and a stay-put top band for outstanding comfort.
Pre-Made Postpartum Gifts For Mom
1. Mama & Baby Bundle from Solly Baby
Solly Baby is hands down one of our favorite brands, and if you’re looking for a sweet and useful new mom care package that doesn’t focus too heavily on the gross aspects of postpartum, this is the perfect fit!
It’s packed with outrageously soft, luxurious products that support mama and baby, including a gorgeous robe and wrap for babywearing a newborn.
2. Bodily Care for Birth Box
We used to make our own postpartum care packages, but now that Bodily has this amazing gift box full of postpartum must-haves, everyone’s lives are much easier.
From mesh underwear to breast pods to a peri bottle and more, this gift has everything mama needs for her physical recovery.
Care For Birth Box – $100.00
from: Bodily
And best of all, it has a small, reader-friendly guidebook, which is perfect since most of us don’t know what we even need after birth!
3. Kiinde Milk Gift Set
I know this looks like it’s for baby, but trust me, it’s for mom. Ideal for pumping moms but also great for formula-feeding moms, this “breast milk storage set” provides storage bags and a bottle warmer that removes the need to wash bottles. Hallelujah!
This amazing gift gives mom her time (and soft hands) back.
Postpartum Gifts: Self-Care
So often, while the new baby receives so many gifts and so much attention that the mom can’t use all her child has received, the new mom ends up feeling isolated and lonely. (Click here to read “The Excruciating Loneliness of Being a New Mother.”)
The following gifts are suggestions of what to buy a new mom for herself that will help her feel just a bit more loved and pampered. Ideally, they’ll also help her rest (ha!) and maintain some sanity.
More than anything, they’ll remind her of your thoughtful support, which helps tremendously during lonely times.
1. Barefoot Dreams Slippers
Mom will spend a lot of time at home, and it’s nice to walk around comfortably.
Fuzzy slippers with memory foam are the perfect way to do this!
2. Barefoot Dreams Blanket
When you spend a lot of time sitting with a baby, staying warm and cozy can make the days feel much more effortless.
Barefoot Dreams makes the SOFTEST, most AMAZING blankets I’ve ever touched–I feel like I’m being pampered just by having one on me.
3. Essential Oil Diffuser
Diffusing essential oils is a great way to calm the mind and body, and doing it in a beautiful diffuser that adds to your home decor is an extra bonus.
Who says we can’t be calm and relaxed while taking care of baby?
4. Spa or Nail Gift Certificate
Is there a local nail salon or spa that your giftee loves? Why not get them a gift certificate for a pedicure, facial, or massage?
Even better, you can include a coupon for free babysitting that mama can use while she’s out of the house getting pampered for a while.
5. Bath Products
From bath bombs to a tub pillow, anything mom can use to create a luxurious bubble bath experience will win you a few gold stars!
Postpartum Gifts: Recovery Gift Basket
We’ve talked a lot about the difficulty of the postpartum period, both in terms of physical and emotional recovery. To better understand what the new mom is going through, click here to learn about postpartum recovery.
While the best treatment for childbirth is time, plenty of trusted products can make the experience easier. If you don’t want to buy a pre-made recovery basket like the one from Bodily mentioned above, why not piece together a postpartum essentials gift basket?
You can include various items, such as:
Gifts For New Mom: Baby Care Support
While this list is specifically about supportive gifts to buy a new mom for herself, not baby gifts, certain options will make her life with baby easier. After all, if a gift makes her days a little less stressful, it does support her!
(1) Bambino Gift Card
Make sure the Bambino app is available in the mom you love’s area. If so, a Bambino gift card is great. Bambino connects you with recommended sitters in your area.
I love 2 things about it: (1) Neighbors recommend every sitter! (2) There’s an option to filter for people who specifically sit for infants, which is HARD to find. This feature is what puts Bambino above other sitting apps in my book.
This is a great gift to buy for new mom. Tell her to use code “KATY2019” for $10 off their first sitter, including the value of the gift card you gave!
(2) Snoo Rental
Who could shell out thousands of dollars for a bassinet? Not many can. But they saw the problem and fixed it–now, you can rent it, which is perfect since most families only need this smart sleeper for the first few months.
This fantastic gadget keeps baby safely swaddled on his/her back, and it works to lull them back to sleep. New parents absolutely SWEAR by it, myself included.
Connecting to an app on parents’ phones, Snoo tells them what stage of sleep baby is in. The product also alerts them when it can’t get the baby back to sleep and they need to wake up to care for them.
(3) Binxy Baby Grocery Cart Sling
One of the most complex parts of having a new baby is losing your freedom to easily do basic tasks, like pop into the grocery store. Sure, you can leave the baby sleeping in the car seat, but then you have no space for your groceries. Enter Binxy Baby.
This brilliant hammock hooks directly to your grocery cart, so you can put baby’s car seat in it or baby themselves.
And it leaves half of the cart available for your actual groceries. Amazing.
4. Baby-Wearing Products
From lightweight baby wraps to heavy-duty carriers, any type of babywearing device is a welcome option for new parents who need a little bit of hands-free time to get some things done!
5. Jack & Rose White Noise Machine
My daughter struggled with colic when she was little, and getting her to relax for nap and bedtime was always challenging.
That is until we discovered the power of white noise for babies!
We used a combination of phone apps and devices to lull her to sleep with the annoying static sound. One of our favorite products was the Jack & Rose White Noise Machine!
So, if you want to gift your friends with a night of sound sleep, this could be an excellent solution.
6. Breastfeeding Pillow
There’s a good chance that some type of breastfeeding pillow is already on the new mama’s baby registry checklist, but just in case, why not pick one up?
Best Postpartum Gifts: Gift Cards and Subscriptions
When you have a new little one, it feels like there’s never enough time for anything! The to-do list is constantly getting longer, and it’s likely only in mom’s head because she never has free hands to write anything down. Maybe, if she’s really organized, it’s in a note on her phone.
I remember how frustrated I got when people told me, “Just sleep when the baby sleeps.”
First, I had postpartum anxiety, so I couldn’t sleep at all. Read more about how to deal with postpartum anxiety
Second, I just wanted to scream at them. “If I sleep when the baby sleeps, when the hell do you expect me to eat, pump, wash all his bottle and pump parts (God bless you, pumping moms), empty diaper pails, do the piles of spit-up-filled laundry?” And that’s just a tiny part of the list.
What I needed more than anything was time. And that’s true of most new moms. These suggested gifts for a new mom will help her save time and, thus, frustration. Heck, maybe she’ll even get to sleep when the baby sleeps. Not likely, but maybe.
(1) Amazon Prime Membership
Check to see if they already have one first! This membership will get free 2-day shipping (or less) from Amazon, which makes it much easier to keep up with supplies they need around the house!
(2) Audible Plus Membership
New moms spend lots of time watching TV and listening to podcasts or audiobooks while their little ones sleep in their arms. Books are hard to read with a babe in arms, but easy to listen to, and with Audible Plus, new moms get unlimited listens!
(3) Instacart Gift Card
Instacart is amazing for new moms because it allows them to have groceries delivered right to their doors. It gained popularity during quarantine days, but for parents of newborns, it’s been a game changer since long before that.
(4) Amazon Gift Card
The gift that works for everyone because they can buy anything they need and have it arrive right at their door! Need more wipes? Boom, mailed to your door. Decide to use a different bottle and don’t want to drag baby around town trying to find it? Order it from your couch!
5. Meal Kit Delivery Service
Meal kit services like HelloFresh or Blue Apron make fantastic postpartum gifts for mom and dad because they simplify dinner time – what’s better than that?
6. Membership to a Big Box Store
I didn’t get a membership to our local Sam’s Club until after our daughter was born. Once I did, however, I realized how amazing big box stores could be.
You can get better prices on household staples and groceries and decrease the number of trips you have to take to the store with a screaming newborn in tow!
7. Bean Box
It takes a lot of caffeine to keep most of us moms going during those early days at home with a newborn. Why not supply your friend with the coffee bean goodness they deserve?
Bean Box is a top-rated coffee subscription service that lets you customize the frequency of delivery, the quantities, and the types of coffee you receive.
Funny Gifts For New Moms
Who said postpartum gifts for mom had to be serious items? I think it’s safe to say many of us would love to have a hilarious new mom gift to brighten our day!
1. Mommy Milestone Wine Basket
We always celebrate our baby’s milestones, but what about our own? With this collection of wine labels from Etsy, you can do just that!
Just buy the labels, slap them on a few nice bottles of wine, and tell mom to pop the cork when you’re ready to “celebrate” memorable moments like:
- Baby’s First Blowout
- Mommy & Daddy’s First Night Out
- Baby’s First Public Temper Tantrum
2. Mama’s Boobery Sweatshirt
I can’t be the only breastfeeding mama who felt like a walking dairy farm, right?
Why not help mom make the most of their new gig as a human milk factory with this comfy sweatshirt!
3. “Look at You Becoming Parents and S**t” Candle
You know those bath products we mentioned earlier? Well, imagine how much the new mama will enjoy her bubble bath after she lights this yummy “Look at You Becoming Parents and S**t” candle!
This candle comes in several different sizes and scent options to help you create the perfect candle for the new parents in your life.
Best Postpartum Gifts: New Mom Jewelry
Not only do most new moms appreciate a little extra bling in their lives, but new mom jewelry is one of our favorite gift ideas that they’re sure to treasure for years to come.
1. Disc Initial Necklace
This dainty jewelry piece appeals to me as someone who doesn’t love big necklaces.
Whether this is mama’s first baby or fifth, you can customize the necklace with tiny discs with each child’s initials.
2. Baby Birth Stats Bracelet
If your recipient is a fan of silver cuffs, this personalized bracelet will certainly appeal to them! The interior side of the bracelet includes the baby’s birth stats, such as name, weight, and date of birth.
Not only is this a fashionable addition to their jewelry box, but it’s an amazing way to commemorate the important details about their little one’s birth.
3. Birth Flower Necklace
Available in gold, silver, or rose gold, this gorgeous birth flower necklace is one of my favorites!
4. Birthstone Bangle
This adorable birthstone bracelet is trendy on Etsy!
You can customize the bangle with a baby’s birthstone and a small pendant that features their birth flower.
5. Baguette Style Mother’s Ring
There are many styles of mother’s rings on the market, but this baguette design is one of my top picks.
I love how it highlights the baby’s birthstone in a unique, contemporary way.
Postpartum Gifts for Mom That Cost Time, Not Money
The price points on the gifts above vary, but sometimes, it’s just not in your budget to buy gifts for a new mom. And that’s okay!
Some of the best things you can do for a new mom are totally free. You heard me. FREE!
Here’s a list of the best things you can do for a new mom that cost little to nothing.
1. Show Up and Do Something
When you visit (which you should, because remember, she’s likely lonely), don’t just hold the baby for half an hour and leave. DO SOMETHING!
If at all possible, show up with a meal. Visit at lunchtime and offer to bring her lunch.
And while you’re there, do something you can imagine is on her to-do list. Please don’t ask what you should do because her list is too long even to know what to tell you. Just do it. Empty a diaper pail, take out the trash, do the dishes, or do a load of laundry.
2. Give Her a Few Minutes to Herself
Give her advanced notice that you’re coming, ALWAYS, and hold the baby while she does something.
If you don’t tell her to do something, she won’t do it. Giving her options will help even more.
My friend Mary used to come over and say, “I’m here for an hour and a half. What do you need to do? I suggest pump, eat, shower, dry your hair, and put on lotion. But you can nap if you’d prefer.” I felt like I’d been given a spa day just by getting to eat and shower. Drying my hair and putting on lotion just seemed beyond insane. Thursdays with Mary were the greatest!
3. Run One of Her Errands
Here’s the thing: she will not ask for this, and she likely won’t even know what errand she needs you to run. Figure it out anyway.
When my friend Emily asked what errands she could run for me, I had no idea what to say. So she rephrased her question and asked where I was planning to ask Husband to go that day. AH HA! Now that was easy. Target and Whole Foods. So that’s where she went.
4. Cook Her a Meal
You can prepare it ahead of time, or show up and cook it at her house to give her company. If you cook at her home, just make sure you clean up EVERY SINGLE BIT OF YOUR MESS!
Emily made me my favorite muffins, and it was Heaven because I could eat those one-handed even when no one was around and I was overwhelmed.
*Note: They’re probably already getting a lot of lasagna. Everyone makes lasagna because it freezes well. I was immensely grateful for each lasagna I received and ate every bite. Still, when my friend Julia showed up with a fresh salad and a poppyseed chicken casserole, I was near tears because I was so excited about something different.
5. Bring Her Something Reheatable (or that She Can Eat Cold) for Breakfast
Mornings with a new baby are SO hard. Mom is exhausted from a long night, hasn’t likely had caffeine yet, and has a baby who needs EVERYTHING.
Muffins were my go-to–filled with oats and healthy ingredients to give me a smidge of nutrition, but still not something I could call healthy. But when someone showed up with individual (made in muffin-tins) quiches, it was amazing. It was like a REAL breakfast. I could heat it up and have eggs and bacon and sausage. What was even happening?
6. Text to Check-In
I’m serious. Motherhood is hard and navigating the emotions and physical recovery after pregnancy is even harder. This is a gift, and it’s something you can do from far away. I just needed human contact, and having people check in was lifesaving. I appreciated calls, but I couldn’t usually make them work–I wasn’t that adept at using my 2 hands for multiple things. So texts were my lifeline.
What do you buy a new mom for herself?
Other Gift Guides
- Miscarriage gifts
- Rainbow baby gifts
- Infertility gifts
- IVF gifts
- Push presents
- New mom gifts
- Funny mom mugs
Clothing Recommendations
Postpartum Articles
Early Parenting Articles
Other Favorites from Undefining Motherhood
Katy Huie Harrison, PhD, is an author, mom, recurrent miscarriage survivor, & owner of Undefining Motherhood. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and 2 children (Jack & Branham). She believes our society puts too many expectations on women that make womanhood and motherhood restrictive. Her goal is to shift the paradigm about what it means to be a woman and mother, giving all women a greater sense of agency over their own lives. You can find Katy and her work featured in places like CNN’s Headline News, Romper, Scary Mommy, Love What Matters & more.
“care package that doesn’t focus too heavily on the GROSS aspects of postpartum”. A bit harsh, no?